Chinese Technology Company Decodes Apple’s AirDrop Encryption
A Chinese technology company has managed to decode the encryption on Apple’s AirDrop wireless file-sharing feature, allowing it to identify users of the popular service. According to the Beijing Justice Bureau, Beijing-based Wangshendongjian Technology was able to help police track down people who used the service to send “inappropriate information” to passersby on the Beijing subway.
The company was able to identify the mobile phone numbers and email addresses of the senders as part of an investigation following a complaint, leading to the identification of several suspects. The nature of the messages sent was not disclosed.
AirDrop has been blamed for annoying messages received by some travelers on subways and buses in Chinese cities. Protesters also reportedly used the feature to spread anonymous messages critical of the Chinese government in the final months of 2022.
The company claimed to have overcome the technical difficulties of anonymous traceability through AirDrop, which they say prevented further spread of inappropriate comments and potential bad influences.
Apple has not yet commented on the situation.
According to international media reports, residents in China have used AirDrop to distribute leaflets and images echoing slogans used in a rare protest against Chinese leader Xi Jinping in October of that year. In 2019, the feature was also popular among anti-government protesters in Hong Kong, who used it to send posters and artwork to subway passengers urging them to participate in protests.
In November 2022, Apple began limiting AirDrop sharing with people who were not contacts for devices in China, and later expanded this feature worldwide.